New public park in the heart of Melbourne

The Future Melbourne Committee has unanimously endorsed plans for the first new urban park in the Hoddle Grid since City Square was developed in 1980.

The brand new Market Street public park (name pending) will be located adjacent to Cbus Property and ISPT’s landmark Collins Arch development at 447 Collins Street and will significantly improve connectivity and walkability in the CBD’s western grid.

The park was designed by award-winning landscape architects Oculus, in collaboration with a Project Steering Committee (which includes Council and Cbus Property representatives). The new area is set to feature a collection of unique public spaces, as well as wide bluestone paths to accommodate for an increased number of pedestrians, new seating, space for programmed events and improved pedestrian access to public transport.

The implementation of Market Street public park will unlock 1,900 square metres of open space in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. The public park will be connected to a further 1,750 square metres of publicly accessible and occupiable space within the Collins Arch development, through a large amphitheatre.

Adrian Pozzo, CEO of Cbus Property said the new park is extremely important for the CBD, both from an environmental and human wellness perspective.

“The park’s design will incorporate a number of environmentally sustainable design elements that meet the requirements of a modern and future-focused city, as directed by City of Melbourne’s strategies and guidelines, he explained.

“The introduction of a tree canopy, lawns and garden beds within the park will help mitigate the urban heat island effect, with the proposed Water Sensitive Urban Design elements minimising stormwater runoff. These design considerations will create a contemporary and functional public park, that will benefit the overall well-being of the community and the city environment.”

The park will feature a variety of trees and lawns that capitalise on the unique slope of Market Street, providing a line of sight of the entire length of the park and down towards the river. The park will incorporate a collection of different spaces, including a City Garden, Central Plaza, a Terrace and Northern Lawns. A playful landscape, featuring sensory integrated elements, has also been incorporated into the park’s design, to foster imaginative nature-based play for young children in the city.

Claire Martin, Associate Director of Oculus said the landscape architecturally designed park will be an important addition to Melbourne’s CBD.

“The introduction of an open green space will help extend the urban forest for public enjoyment. The park’s design is distinctly Melbourne, drawing on the materiality and history of the surrounding CBD streets and heritage buildings, incorporating elements of bluestone and sandstone,” she commented.

“Market Street park will feature a number of environmental and biophilic elements, including an extensive tree canopy of varying heights woven throughout the space which will help to mitigate heat, the evaporative cooling benefits of the adjacent water wall, and use of local materials and place-based references. Perennial borders have been incorporated to increase biodiversity in the city, utilising where possible locally indigenous plants that were in the area prior to settlement,” Ms Martin said.

The Market Street park is scheduled for completion around the year 2020 and The City of Melbourne will decide on a name for the park at a future date.

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